Matthew 26 — Greek text and reception

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When Jesus finished all these words, He said to His disciples,

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“You know that after two days the Passover takes place, and the Son of Man is handed over to be crucified.”

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Then the chief priests and elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of the high priest called Caiaphas.

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They took counsel to seize Jesus by deceit and kill Him.

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But they said, “Not during the feast, lest an uproar occur among the people.”

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While Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

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a woman came to Him with an alabaster flask of very costly perfume and poured it upon His head as He reclined at table.

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Seeing it, the disciples became indignant, saying, “Why this waste?

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For this could have been sold for much and given to the poor.”

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Knowing this, Jesus said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? For she has done a good work toward Me.

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For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.

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By pouring this perfume upon My body, she did it to prepare Me for burial.

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Truly I tell you, wherever this good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she did will also be told in remembrance of her.”

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Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests

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and said, “What are you willing to give me, and I will hand Him over to you?” They weighed out for him thirty silver coins.

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From then on he sought a suitable opportunity to hand Him over.

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On the first day of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do You wish us to prepare for You to eat the Passover?”

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He said, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I keep the Passover at your house with My disciples.’”

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The disciples did as Jesus directed them, and prepared the Passover.

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When evening came, He reclined at table with the twelve disciples.

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As they ate, He said, “Truly I tell you that one of you will hand Me over.”

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Exceedingly grieved, each began saying to Him, “Surely it is not I, Lord?”

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He answered, “The one who dipped his hand with Me in the dish will hand Me over.

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The Son of Man indeed goes as it is written concerning Him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is handed over! It would have been good for him if that man had not been born.”

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Judas, who was handing Him over, answered, “Surely it is not I, Rabbi?” He said to him, “You have said it.”

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As they ate, Jesus took bread, blessed, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take, eat; this is My body.”

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He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you,

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for this is My blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

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I tell you, from now on I will certainly not drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

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After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

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Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will stumble because of Me this night, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

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But after I am raised, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

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Peter answered Him, “Even if everyone stumbles because of You, I will never stumble.”

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Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you that this night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”

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Peter said to Him, “Even if I must die with You, I will certainly not deny You.” All the disciples said likewise.

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Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

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Taking Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to be grieved and distressed.

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Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, even to death. Remain here and keep watch with Me.”

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Going forward a little, He fell upon His face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Nevertheless, not as I wish, but as You wish.”

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He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “So, could you not keep watch with Me for one hour?

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Keep watch and pray, so that you may not enter temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

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Again He went away a second time and prayed, saying, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, let Your will be done.”

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He came and again found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

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He left them and went away again, praying a third time and saying the same words again.

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Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Sleep on now and rest. Behold, the hour has drawn near, and the Son of Man is handed over into sinners’ hands.

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Rise, let us go. Behold, the one handing Me over has drawn near.”

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While He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, came with a great crowd carrying swords and clubs, from the chief priests and elders of the people.

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The one handing Him over had given them a sign, saying, “The One I kiss is He; seize Him.”

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Immediately he came to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi,” and kissed Him.

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Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you have come for.” Then they came forward, laid their hands upon Jesus, and seized Him.

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And behold, one of those with Jesus stretched out his hand, drew his sword, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his ear.

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Then Jesus said to him, “Return your sword to its place, for all who take a sword will perish by a sword.

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Or do you think I cannot plead with My Father, and He will provide Me at once more than twelve legions of angels?

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How, then, would the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must happen this way?”

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At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs, to arrest Me? Daily I sat teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me.

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But all this has happened so that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left Him and fled.

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Those who seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders had gathered.

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Peter followed Him at a distance as far as the high priest’s courtyard. Going inside, he sat with the officers to see the outcome.

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The chief priests and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death,

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but found none, although many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward

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and said, “This Man said, ‘I can destroy God’s sanctuary and build it in three days.’”

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The high priest rose and said to Him, “Do You answer nothing? What is this that they testify against You?”

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But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to Him, “I adjure You by the living God to tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God.”

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Jesus said to him, “You have said it. Nevertheless I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right of the Power and coming upon the clouds of heaven.”

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Then the high priest tore his garments, saying, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you heard the blasphemy.

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What do you think?” They answered, “He is liable to death.”

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Then they spat into His face and struck Him with their fists; others slapped Him,

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saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”

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Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One servant girl approached him, saying, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.”

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But he denied it before everyone, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”

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When he went out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.”

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Again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the Man.”

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After a little while, those standing there came and said to Peter, “Truly you too are one of them, for even your speech makes you recognizable.”

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Then he began to invoke curses and swear, “I do not know the Man.” Immediately a rooster crowed.

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Peter remembered Jesus’ word: “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” He went outside and wept bitterly.